Directed by Mike Newell (Pushing Tin, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Four Weddings and a Funeral)

Starring Johnny Depp and Al Pacino, Michael Madsen, Anne Heche

Synopsis: “This true story follows FBI agent Joe Pistone as he infiltrates the mafia of New York. Befriending Lefty Ruggiero, Pistone (under the name Donnie Brasco) is able to embed himself in a mafia faction lead by Sonny Black. Ruggiero and Pistone become tight as the group goes about collecting money for ‘the bosses’. Eventually, the group become big time when Black himself becomes a boss, all the while Pistone collects evidence. However, the trials and tribulations of the undercover work become more than Pistone can bear. His marriage falls apart and to top it off, the mafia suspect a mole in the organization. The real dilemma is afforded to Pistone, who knows if he walks away from the mafia, Ruggiero will be the one punished.”

This was better than I remembered it being. I had watched it years ago while I was in University and found it pretty unremarkable, but upon second viewing it was actually quite good. It looks like Pacino is actually trying, which is saying something. And Johnny Depp is impressive too in creating a character that always feels authentic. Though it’s a true story, the individual beats of this kind of gangster movie are pretty cliched by now, so really the fact that it doesn’t feel tired and unoriginal really comes down to these performances.

Really, the only complaint I can think of about the movie is that it’s not made by Scorsese… which is really unfair because if it was more like Goodfellas, I would say its a ripoff… But I just had to bring it up because I often found myself thinking, “Scorsese would’ve shot this amazingly” or “Scorsese would’ve had the perfect song here”… so that non-complaint is my only complaint.

Watch It sometime.